Here’s the scene: Friday night, EuroMillions draw. Numbers roll in — 06, 12, 18, 25, 41 with Lucky Stars 02 and 06 — and somewhere in the UK, one ticket matches the lot. No confetti cannon, no victory parade. Just a single winner quietly stepping forward to claim £26 million.

It’s the third EuroMillions jackpot to land in the UK this year (out of ten so far). January brought £83 million to one ticket-holder. Valentine’s Day handed another £65 million to someone else. Both chose the bliss of anonymity — like winning the life lottery and then ghosting the internet.

Meanwhile, Saturday’s separate £10.6 million Lotto jackpot? Still unclaimed. If you’re currently eyeing a pile of unchecked slips on your kitchen counter, this might be your friendly nudge. The winning Lotto numbers were 06, 08, 12, 33, 49, 59 with a bonus 42.

Allwyn’s Andy Carter is doing the usual PSA: check your tickets, check your emails, breathe. If you’ve won, there’s a whole playbook of advice and experts ready to keep your newfound fortune from turning into a full-time job.

Perspective check

• £26 million is enormous, but not “legend tier.” You’d need £183 million+ to crack EuroMillions’ all-time top 10.
• The UK’s biggest EuroMillions win is £195 million (2022).
• People do miss these things. A player in Rhondda Cynon Taf let £1 million expire last year (180-day deadline). The largest unclaimed EuroMillions prize in the UK was £63.8 million in June 2012.

The winner’s claim will be verified against the game’s terms and conditions, and then they’ll decide whether to go public or keep it quiet. Either way, EuroMillions keeps spinning every Tuesday and Friday across nine European countries, turning probability into possibility — and occasionally, a very good day for someone who remembered to check their numbers.

Source: National Lottery (UK). Draw: EuroMillions and Lotto.